Friday, 17 June 2005

Liberty's birthday

120 years ago today, the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbour from France as a gift to the American people from the people of France. Her creator, sculptor Frederic Bartholdi called her "Liberty Enlightening the World."

For generations of new Americans, it was their first glimpse of America as their ship came into New York Harbour; for others around the world it is still a symbol of the advance of liberty.

Happy Birthday, Libbie.

[ See how you score on this Liberty Trivia challenge. I got 94% -- not that I'm boasting of course -- but for some reason it refuses to believe Emma Lazarus is the author of 'The New Colossus.' ]

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall standA mighty woman with a torch, whose flameIs the imprisoned lightning, and her nameMother of Exiles. From her beacon-handGlows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes commandThe air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

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